Anthony Melchiorri, host of "Hotel Impossible," on the Travel Channel.

(Travel Channel)

Anthony Melchiorri doesn't want to say too much about what the specific problems at Hood River's Vagabond Lodge were. Since the "Hotel Impossible" episode focusing on the hotel airs on Monday June 2, Melchiorri is reluctant to give away the details of the hotel's issues and his own diagnosis of how to fix them, before viewers have a chance to see for themselves.

In a phone call, Melchiorri shows no hesitation, however, about singing the praises of the Columbia Gorge scenery that surrounds Vagabond Lodge.

"I was absolutely stunned by the beauty of Hood River," Melchiorri says. "It was spectacular. It was raining while we were there, and it was still spectacular."

On the Travel Channel show, "Hotel Impossible," Melchiorri calls upon his skills as a hotel "fixer," traveling around the country to give hotel operators the straight scoop on what's not working and what they need to do to make it right.

With the Vagabond Lodge, Melchiorri found a property that had been in the same family since 1954. The promos show Melchiorri and the hotel staff scurrying to make the lodge ready for a wedding.

While some hotel owners are resistant to Melchiorri's advice, he found Vagabond Lodge owner Grant Paulsen receptive. "I was impressed with the passion of the owner, and the people who worked there were very nice."

Another takeaway from his Hood River visit: "Windsurfing is not my forte."

Melchiorri says that in this social media age, it's important for any hotel operator to do the best they can to please customers. And he has three tips for travelers looking to make the most of their hotel experience.

1. Do your homework: "With all the comments that are online, and with the transparency of our business, there is no reason you should be in a bad hotel. One of the reasons I have a job is, the Internet is putting bad hotels out of business."

2. If you do find yourself in a bad hotel, speak up: "Complain to the front desk. If you don't get satisfaction, ask for a general manager."

3. If you don't get satisfaction, speak up online: "Give the hotel an opportunity to fix the problem. In my business, you don't make a reputation on being perfect. You make a reputation on making mistakes, and fixing them, and following through. If you do that, people will say, 'They really cared about me, they listened to me, and they followed through.' If they don't do that, then go on the Internet and tell everybody that they suck."

The "Hotel Impossible" episode about Hood River's Vagabond Lodge airs at 7 p.m. Monday June 2 on the Travel Channel, and repeats at 10 p.m.

-- Kristi Turnquist

Do you have questions, rants or raves about what you're watching? Join Kristi Turnquist for TV Talk Live, our weekly live chat here at Oregonlive.com/tv, every Thursday at noon.